Heumarkt Ice Rink 2026/27: Tips from Local Cologne Guides

Where can you go ice skating at Heumarkt in Cologne?

The ice rink at Heumarkt square in Cologne’s Old Town is part of the Heinzels Wintermärchen Christmas market. This outdoor rink has straights more than 100 metres long and a route around the equestrian statue, surrounded by illuminated Christmas market stalls.

Based on our previous visits, we recommend approaching the rink and skate hire through the Christmas market entrance on the Deutzer Brücke side, towards the bridge over the Rhine. From there, you can reach the ticket office and skate collection area.

At Kölner Kompass, our Cologne brewery tours bring us to Heumarkt every day throughout the year, including the Christmas season. We particularly look forward to winter evenings, when we sometimes lace up our skates for a few laps after our tours. We’re planning to get back on the ice this year, too. We know this square both as local guides and on skates.

When is Heumarkt ice rink open in 2026/2027?

Heumarkt ice rink is open from 23 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. It is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

• 23 November to 30 December 2026: daily from 11:00 am to 9:45 pm.
• 31 December 2026 to 10 January 2027: daily from 11:00 am to 8:45 pm.
• 24 and 25 December 2026: closed.

You can therefore keep skating after Christmas and into the New Year. While the Christmas market at nearby Alter Markt finishes on 23 December, the winter festivities at Heumarkt continue into January.

These are the opening hours specifically published for the ice rink on the operator’s website. Allow some extra time for entry, skate collection and getting your skates on before your first lap.

How much does ice skating at Heumarkt cost in 2026/2027?

A regular adult day ticket for Heumarkt ice rink starts at €9.50. Skate hire costs extra.

• Adults, Monday to Friday: €9.50.
• Adults, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: €11.50.
• Children aged 5 to 12: €6.
• Children under 5: free admission.
• Family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children: €24.
• Small-group ticket for 1 adult and 2 children: €18.
• Late-evening “Gute-Nacht-Ticket”: €6.

Advance booking fees apply to online purchases.

Adult admission and skate hire together cost €16 from Monday to Friday or €18 at weekends and on public holidays. For online tickets with skate hire, the displayed price also includes a €2 refundable deposit on top of those amounts. Online booking fees and optional locker use cost extra.

The late-evening ticket is valid from 8:45 pm, or from 7:45 pm starting on 31 December. Skate hire is not included.

The Christmas market itself is free to enter. Friends and family who don’t want to skate can still join you, browse the stalls and enjoy the festive atmosphere. You don’t all need to get on the ice to make an afternoon of it.

Can you book tickets online, and how long can you skate?

The operator has an official online ticket shop. Day tickets let you skate without a fixed time limit during opening hours. You can access the shop through the ticket link on the Heinzels Wintermärchen website.

Online tickets let you bypass the ticket-office queue. You may still need to queue for skate hire, particularly at weekends.

If you want to leave the skating area to browse the Christmas market and return later, check with the entrance staff first whether your ticket allows re-entry.

Can you hire skates at Heumarkt or bring your own?

You can bring your own skates or hire a pair at the rink. Rental skates are available in EU sizes 26 to 50 and cost €6.50 for adults or €5.50 for children. Smaller sizes are not listed on the operator’s website.

Online tickets that include skate hire already include a €2 deposit in the displayed price. This is refunded in cash when you return your skates.

Bringing your own skates saves you the hire charge and deposit. You still need to pay for admission to the rink.

Are there lockers at Heumarkt ice rink?

Lockers are available in the skate hire area. They cost €1 to use. Bring a one-euro coin: the locker keeps it, so it is a fee rather than a refundable deposit.

You can store your regular shoes and personal belongings there, provided they fit. Backpacks are not permitted on the ice, so it’s best to travel light.

Is Heumarkt ice rink suitable for children and beginners?

Children and beginners can skate at Heumarkt. Skating aids are available, and there is also a children’s skating school.

Families may want to visit on Mondays, when admission for children aged 5 to 12 costs €5 as part of the children’s day offer. Skate hire costs extra.

Helmets and gloves are recommended. Adults accompanying a child onto the ice must wear skates themselves. Ordinary shoes are not allowed on the ice.

Take your time when finding your balance. Your first lap doesn’t need to win any prizes for elegance.

Is the ice resurfaced during the day?

The ice is maintained and smoothed using an ice-resurfacing machine. This removes the grooves and uneven patches that develop as people skate. The rink has to be cleared temporarily while this takes place.

A break is a good excuse for hot chocolate or Kinderpunsch, a warm, non-alcoholic fruit punch. Save the Glühwein, or mulled wine, until after your final skate. Food and drinks are not allowed on the ice.

The rink staff will let you know when to leave the ice and when skating can resume. Allow for a possible break during your visit.

Can you skate at Heumarkt when it rains?

Rain does not automatically mean you have to cancel your plans. We’ve skated at Heumarkt in the rain ourselves. As this is an outdoor rink, a waterproof jacket and a dry change of clothes can make the experience much more comfortable.

Spare gloves are especially useful for children. Anyone who spends part of their first lesson sitting on the ice will appreciate a dry pair afterwards.

Whether skating can continue depends on the weather and conditions at the rink. Follow the ice rink team’s instructions on the day.

What is the best time to go ice skating at Heumarkt?

After dark is particularly atmospheric, with the Christmas stalls and surrounding lights creating a festive backdrop. Evenings can also be busier, especially at weekends in the run-up to Christmas.

If your schedule is flexible and you prefer a quieter visit, try a weekday during the daytime. That doesn’t guarantee an empty rink, as school parties and other groups also visit then.

Late afternoon is a lovely compromise. You can start in daylight and watch the Christmas market light up around you.

How do you get to Heumarkt ice rink, and where can you park?

Heumarkt station is right beside the square, served by KVB lines 1, 5, 7 and 9, part of Cologne’s tram and light rail network. From Köln Hauptbahnhof, Cologne’s central station, you can walk past the cathedral and through Alter Markt to reach the rink.

If you’re driving, Parkhaus Heumarkt is a nearby car park. Other city-centre options include the Groß St. Martin, Philharmonie and Dom car parks.

Cologne’s city centre gets busy during the Christmas season, particularly at weekends. Allow extra time for traffic and finding a space. Park and Ride is a useful alternative: leave your car outside the centre and take public transport into the Old Town.

Where can you take good photos of Heumarkt ice rink?

For photos, choose a spot off the ice with a view of the equestrian statue and Christmas market stalls. That way, you can capture the skaters and the setting together.

The bridge over the ice rink is another good viewpoint. You can watch the skating, keep an eye on your companions and take photos from above. Leave enough room for people crossing the bridge.

And don’t be surprised if you spot a couple in wedding clothes among the winter coats and woolly hats. Cologne’s civil wedding venues are nearby, and newlyweds have been known to celebrate with a turn on the ice. Their first outing as a married couple might just be on skates.

Keep your phone in your pocket while on the ice. Using it there is prohibited under the rink’s rules. Ask someone watching from the sidelines to capture your skating moment instead.

Who is the statue in the middle of Heumarkt ice rink?

The equestrian statue at Heumarkt depicts King Frederick William III of Prussia, known in German as Friedrich Wilhelm III. Unveiled in 1878, the monument is affectionately called “et Pääd”, meaning “the horse” in Cologne’s local dialect.

The figures around the base have stories of their own. They include military leaders, reformers and scholars, among them the naturalist Alexander von Humboldt. There’s more to discover here than a king on horseback.

The monument has had an eventful history. Following wartime damage and the later melting down of substantial parts, the equestrian figure was largely recreated and returned in 1990. This familiar part of Heumarkt has not always been as permanent as it looks.

Where else can you go ice skating in Cologne outside the Christmas market season?

The Lentpark ice rink at Lentstraße 30 offers skating beyond the Christmas market period. If you enjoy your laps at Heumarkt, you can keep practising there during the ice-skating season. Alongside the main rink, Lentpark has a 260-metre elevated ice track.

Check the public skating sessions published by KölnBäder, the facility’s operator, before visiting. Ice skating at Lentpark is seasonal rather than available throughout the year.

What can you combine with ice skating at Heumarkt?

Heumarkt ice rink is well placed for a Christmas market visit and a traditional Cologne brewhouse experience. Its location in the Old Town makes it easy to turn a few laps on the ice into a full afternoon in Cologne.

After skating, stay for a mulled wine at the Christmas market or join us at Kölner Kompass for a Cologne brewery tour. We introduce you to traditional Brauhäuser, Cologne’s lively brewhouses serving the local Kölsch beer, and share the stories, people and customs behind them. You can swap your skates for comfortable shoes for this part.

Still looking for a Christmas present? A brewery tour gift voucher is a way to give someone time together in Cologne. It’s a lovely excuse to finally arrange that outing you’ve been talking about.

Prices and dates are based on information published by Heinzels Wintermärchen. The included €2 deposit described here applies to online tickets with skate hire. Prices, opening hours and offers may change. Please check the ice rink operator’s information on the Heinzels Wintermärchen website before your visit.